Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-07-28
A WOMAN'S WIT.
by JAMES NJ. ADAMS.

3Indeed, Miss Mclaughlin, it is not only
possible, but easy of accomplishments
II think not. Tho attempt would be
hazardous. No one should endanger his
life in such way"
The afternoon sun shone warmly on
Bridgewater Cliffs. Tho soft murmur of
the sea fell family on the ear. There was
pence in the air and upon the SEQ.
Mark Hilton's usual clear headed iudg-
ment was somewhat disturbed this after
noon; for was not Kitty Mclaughlin with
him2 1t was not every day that he had her
all to himself three miles from human
habitation. However he might strive 10
conceal it, his elation would show itself in
face and speech. Nature was in apposi-
ton with his mood.
j This was no ordinary pair. Mark Hilton
was "a, handsome-not pretty man. lie
was tall and straight, possessing face of
peculiarly intellectual cast. His manner,
and at times his speech, exhibited the
h slight awkwardness often seen in those who
are given to habits of seclusion. He did
not much affect general society; he was a
b man with an object in life, and that objcte
was not mere personal popularity. Mark
4 Hilton was, in the highest sense, q gentle-
man.
Miss Kate Mclaughlin was 10 years of
age; tall and we'll formed. She had a
pleasant and intelligent face. People did
not consider her beautiful, Mark Hilton to
the contrary notwithstanding. What most
distinguished her was her remarkable
! gracefulness of speech and manner. She
was finely educated, and, like Hilton, pos
sessed of q marked individuality. The
young men who sought her society were
we'll treated, but, with the exception of
Hilton, made small progress in their efforts
more intimate. There was line they could
not cross. They could never see the reason
why. She did. She knew that even the
alchemy of love could not unite gold and
lead without debasing the former. Itmust
be gold with gold to preserve the standard.
a The subject which Mark Hilton and Kitty
81 Mclaughlin were discussing SO earnestly
as was the possibility of safely reaching o
q certain tiny blue flower which grew far out
= on the rugged face of the cliff. Kitty had
b discovered it in its isolated position
y few moments before, and, remarking that
n it was unlike any tney had seen that day,
h wondered what it could be. The distance
was SO great she could not decide, although
II good botanist. Mark, with more en-
thusiasm than righteousness, volunteered
to get it for her-a proposal she would not
E listen to.
@Nonsense!" returned Mark. aThere is
no danger worth mentioning. Don't you
see there is n line of shelving rock jutting
out from behind the cliff which leads
directly to it."
aBut you might slip or become dizzy. 1t
must be a hundred feet to the bottom, p she
said, with shudder.
Slipping is impossible with these on, /"
& said Mark, calling attention to the rubber
solcd lawn-tennis shoes which he wore;
"and my head was always steady one"
4 4But you shall not imperil your life in
such foolhardy attempt" said Kitty,
decidedly.
"oh, yes, will. You don't know what
4 determined fellow am when get
Btaried." answered Mark with laugh; and
in q second he was several feet out on the
face of the crag.
The shelving rock along which he un-
dertook to make his way was barely four
inches in width. A difficult pathway.
There was nothing to cling to except oc-
casional sharp points which jutted out
d from the mass Of rock.
Slowly and carefully he advances.
Kitty watches him intently, pale and
breathless with suspense.
A few steps more and he will reach it.
All! he has it, and halds it up tri-
umphantly to her view.
She waves her handkerchief, not daring
to speak for fear of startling him.
Now for the return. He starts back
along the precarious pathway. He sud-
denly stops and hesitates. Why SO long,
is it TO rest3 No; he is testing portion OF
tho rock with his foot. Has he become
suspicious of his highway? Yes; and with
good reason. A large portion of the rock
is loosel He bears on it harder, when o
sudden roar, followed by terrible crash,
reverberates from cliff to cliff.
Adeep silence follows. Whit has hap
pened? Has Mark Hilton passed foreye,
from human eyes? No; there he is on his
narrow pathway clinging closely 10 the
ledge. Ahuge piece of rock constituting
part of his ,perilous road has scaled off
leaving the Cliff near,y as smooth as glass
for six or eight feet in his front.
HIS return Is cut OF.
The sun has become obsurcd by heavy
dark clouds. wind has arisen. The sea
no longer mnrmurs softly, but sends forth
snllen, ominous roar. How suddenl,
everything has changed!
Mark Hilton realizes his situation. He
cannot go forward; lie cannot go back, ex.
cept few feet. Above him the perpen.
dicular rock rises 10 the height of ten fee
before the top of the cliff is gained. 1t il
smooth excepta ewslight projections here
and there. No mortal could climb it
Mark knows this. and yet he feels that he
must Try. He cannot long remain in hil
present position.
Was this beautiful day and his life t.
end together? Had he brought this girl
whom he had intended soon to ask to bt
his wite--t to this lonely, isolated spot only
TO witness his exit from the world?--tht
world in which he had hoped to accom-.
plish SO much. The though! of denth, wher
in close proximity to it, is a dreadful thing
especially 10 q young person.
Kitty McLaughlin, when she realized
the catastrophe which had oyertaken hel
lover, was Sc appalled, that she could neither
speak nor move. She stood like one para.
lyzed until the voice of Mark, calling L
her not to be alarmed, brought her back t.
the world Of reason.
Kitty was not one to remain long inactive
if there was anything she could do. Com
ing 10 ting top of The cliff, aboye bis head
she cried:
70, Mark!" lIhere was no Mr. Hilton